Alternatives to Woodburning Fireplaces

Heating your home with a traditional woodburning fireplace creates air pollution that can be damaging to the environment and cause health issues. Using an alternative heating device is more efficient and safer.

The EPA estimates that 65 percent (6.5 million) of the nation’s wood stoves are older, inefficient devices. Changing out one old dirty, inefficient wood stove is equivalent to taking five old diesel trucks off the road.

Cleaner heating devices like EPA-certified wood burning stoves burn more efficiently than older models. This means that much less creosote builds up in your chimney. EPA-certified stoves also emit 60 to 80 percent less smoke up your chimney, reducing air pollution.

Catalytic burners must be replaced every 3–6 years
Non-catalytic wood stoves produce more emissions and burn more wood than catalytic stoves

$1,500-$4,000 (catalytic burner)
$2,200-$4,200 (non-catalytic)

Pellet Stove

Among the cleanest burning (low indoor and outdoor emissions)
Pellets use less energy than wood and increase heat output
More efficient than wood
Infrequent refueling required
Pellets made from waste-wood
Can be used on Air Quality Action Days